Author's Note:

I love reading your reviews and thoughts so please keep leaving them :) To be on the safe side I'm adding a trigger warning at the top of this chapter for a character refusing food / refusing to eat. This story will not deal with any ED issues and that is not the reasoning behind the character's choices BUT in case it would still trigger anyone I felt the warning couldn't hurt. Hope you enjoy the update!

... ...

"You owe Alfred Hardy a favor," Eric called out, the sound of the glass door sliding shut behind him as he joined Alison in the backyard.

Eric and Ben had shown up during the early hours after cleanup duty and getting Ben a few stitches. They'd even gotten another car, a plain looking silver Mazda that was a few years old. It fit into their suburban surroundings perfectly, Alison didn't get a second look when she went out that morning to cross a few things off the growing list she'd been putting together. She had left the guys with simple instructions, keep Emily in the house and make sure she didn't try anything funny. An easy job since Emily had locked herself in the guest bedroom and hadn't come out or opened the door since last night.

Emily hadn't eaten either, she refused to open the door when Alison brought her a few slices of the pizza she'd ordered. Sicilian with spicy tomato sauce, pepperoni, and fresh parm, Alison had to call three different pizzerias until she found one to make the damn thing and Emily wouldn't even eat it. She'd left the plate with Noel, who was standing watch in front of the bedroom overnight, hoping that Emily would come out to get it. She never did, and Noel ended up scarfing it down instead. Alison tried to sleep that night but she was too busy wondering if Emily was sleeping. After a few hours of staring at the ceiling, she got up and went into the study where she brainstormed new and exciting ways to kill Paige. One of which included an electric hand saw and Alison quickly fell down a rabbit hole watching reviews to find the best one.

"And who's Alfred Hardy?" Alison powered on her phone, she'd picked up a charger from the store earlier and was finally able to get some juice.

Eric pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his back pocket and tapped it against his palm to pop one out. With a practiced flick, he lit it and took a long drag, "The owner of Hardy Auto Wreckers." He explained between exhales, "It's the junkyard Ben and I used."

"Did you tell Mr. Hardy how to contact me?"

"Yep,"

Alison hummed a response, If Mr. Hardy knew what was good for him, he'd forget he saw anything and never use her number. "You did good," Alison acknowledged. The two officers' faces had been plastered all over the news for hours but the cops were at a loss for what happened to them and their cruiser. The only thing they had to go on was the description and license plate of the SUV which was now a six by six unrecognizable chunk of metal in Hardy's junkyard. "How was Ben?" Alison asked.

"He was alright, the kid knows how to follow directions. He bitched about his arm the whole time though. He'll probably cry whenever he really takes a bullet." Eric cracked a smile behind his cigarette. "She bit me!" He mocked the high pitched whiny tone Ben had used in the car when Emily bit the inside of his hand. Alison laughed lightly, recalling some other Ben highlights.

"Did Noel tell you she kicked him in the face?" Alison asked with a smirk. There were grown men twice Emily's size who couldn't land a hit on Noel. Emily had gotten lucky, her kicks were wild and uncoordinated but still, Alison admired the guts it took to fight back when outnumbered.

Eric grinned, "Yeah, I caught him looking at his eye in the mirror earlier. Heaven forbid Pretty Boy gets a shiner."

The glass sliding door opened then and out walked Noel in the apron Alison had bought him while she was out. She and Eric shared a look and practically doubled over in laughter. Noel looked between them and instantly realized he was the butt of a joke.

"Ha ha ha, fuck you both." Noel jacked the pack of cigarettes out of Eric's pocket and followed the exact motions his brother had, ending with a long drag and exhale of smoke. "What are you two out here talking about?"

"How the McCullers chick keeps beating you and Ben up,"

"The bitch-"

"Stop," Alison's voice turned serious. "I let you slide yesterday, but you call her a bitch again and you'll be eating out of a straw for the next two months."

Noel threw his hands up in surrender, "Sorry, boss."

"Don't call her the McCullers chick either," Alison turned her glare to Eric.

"Yes, boss." Eric nodded.

Alison let the silence stretch between them until she felt she'd made her point. For better or for worse these were her guys. Where Alison's family saw her as a weakness, Noel and Eric saw a leader, they championed her and never left her side. That kind of loyalty was rare, and she was grateful for it.

"Eric, I need you to go back to the city and cover for me at DCG. Leave tonight once it's dark and take the Rover so we can get it out of here." She explained, and before Eric could rebuttal she added, "It's not a punishment. You're the only one who can do it."

The DiLaurentis family had legal businesses to run, she couldn't not show up at her office on Monday at the DiLaurentis Construction Group or not check in on active sites, at least not without having someone cover for her. Noel didn't have the temperament, and Ben still had too much to learn. Eric was the most familiar with the business and when Alison's father and brother inevitably came looking for her, he would know all the right things to say.

"Noel, what'd you come out here for?" Alison asked the younger Kahn brother.

"Breakfast is ready," Noel announced proudly, leading the three of them back inside the house.

Alison hadn't lied to Emily when she said Noel was a good cook. The breakfast burritos he'd made were delicious, the eggs and bacon were cooked perfectly, and the avocado was fresh. Noel had even made a Chipotle Mayo sauce to pair with it. The trio ate at the island in the kitchen and Alison used the time to check her phone for recent notifications. There was one new text from Jason saying he hadn't heard anything else about the McCullers wedding and that everyone was pretty confused when Paige and her father started kicking everyone out. She shared the minor update with Noel and Eric.

"I'm just saying it's weird, even for them. It's been 24 hours. If it was your wife what would you do?" Eric yelled across the island as he got up to refill his glass of orange juice.

Alison floated in and out of the conversation between the brothers. She thought about the question as she took the last bite of her burrito. Thinking about being in Paige's shoes made her skin itch but she did it anyway. Scorched earth was the only acceptable answer. if Emily had been taken from her, Alison would have been knocking on the doors of allies and rivals alike. No one would know peace until she had her back. Yet outside of the text from Jason, Alison's phone was fairly quiet which meant the streets were quiet. She was certain that when the McCullers decided to loop someone in on Emily's disappearance, the DiLaurentis family would be their first call or their first suspect. Alison just had to wait and see which one it would be.

"I'd keep better tabs on my wife," Noel shot back. "She should've had a guard or something like Mrs. D used to."

The mention of her mother snapped Alison out of her thoughts, "Look at the good that did her," she said sharply. "While you're running your mouth, make Emily a plate," Alison followed up quickly, lightening her tone a bit before either of the guys started apologizing or making things awkward.

Alison's mother didn't come up often, most people steered clear of the subject, except for her father who would bring up her mother every time he felt Alison was stepping out of line. 'Your mother would be disappointed' and 'What would your mother think of this?' were phrases he used on her regularly. Soon her father and Jason would find out she'd taken Emily and she could hear him already. 'Kidnapping a McCullers? What would your mother say?' Alison rolled her eyes. Nothing. Her mother wouldn't say anything because on her best days, she didn't remember who Alison was, and on bad ones, she struggled to remember her own name.

When Emily's plate was ready Alison took it upstairs, dismissing Ben from his post so he could grab a bite. She was going to give Emily the food and try to coax her into talking, or at least that was the plan. After a few minutes of Alison's knocking going unanswered, she put her ear to the door hoping to catch the sound of movement or anything that told her how Emily was doing on the other side.

"Breakfast is the most important meal of the day," Alison banged loudly, hard enough that the door shook on its hinges and she had to ignore the pain in her hand. It was stupid to put Emily in the guest room with a half bathroom attached. If she hadn't, the brunette would've been forced out of the room by her bladder by now. At the time, she wanted Emily to be as comfortable as possible under the circumstances, but Alison hadn't predicted she would hold herself up in the room with no food or drinking water.

Calming herself down Alison knocked a few more times and when she didn't even hear Emily stir, she changed tactics. "What if I leave it in front of the door? I'll leave the plate right here and everyone will stay downstairs until you come out and get it."

Alison left the breakfast outside the door and returned downstairs, she tried not to linger at the bottom of the staircase but her feet wouldn't take her too far. She wanted to catch a glimpse of Emily if she did come out. Half an hour went by and Emily never emerged from the bedroom. They repeated the same routine at lunch and then again at dinner and each time Alison grew more agitated.

… …

As the sun rose the next morning, marking 48 hours since the wedding, Alison's phone was still quiet and it was beginning to bug her. What the hell was Paige doing? Alison should have heard something by now. If not from the McCullers themselves than the network of people Alison had in New York who were her eyes and ears throughout the city. Between the lack of new information and Emily still refusing food, Alison was working hard to ignore the urge she had to break the lock on the guest bedroom door.

After lunch and another failed attempt at convincing Emily to eat, Alison had Noel haul a dusty punching bag out of the garage. She knew her plan would work but it was a matter of keeping herself sane until then, patience really wasn't her forte. With the punching bag in the backyard, Alison worked hard to find the calm in her thoughts, letting the sharp smacking sounds of her fists hitting the bag center her. She tried not to think about Emily cooped up in the bedroom, after two days with no food, water, or a shower she couldn't be feeling good. Smack. But it was her own doing. Smack. Smack. What did she think starving herself would accomplish? Smack. Smack. Smack. Alison pummeled the bag relentlessly until her arms felt like lead and she was gasping for breath, leaning heavily against the worn out leather.

"Don't look now, but you've got an audience," Noel said in a low voice, coming to stand next to Alison.

Noel was in the backyard working on repairing a gap in the tall privacy fence that he'd found during one of his smoke breaks. With Eric back in the city, it was just him and Ben taking turns covering Emily's room.

"How long has she been watching?" Alison asked, trying to regulate her breathing.

"Almost the whole time," Noel replied casually.

Having gone without seeing Emily for over 52 hours, Alison took a risk and glanced up at the window. Emily didn't look away immediately, instead, she held Alison's gaze for what seemed like a full minute before retreating into the shadows of the room. From that brief glimpse, it was difficult for Alison to tell much about Emily's condition, but she could see her exhaustion. Had Emily slept at all since locking herself in there? Alison worried.

"Why hasn't she tried to escape?" Alison's eyes narrowed, the short interaction having refueled her. "That window isn't too high, but she hasn't tried to climb down or use it to call for help."

"She probably knows we'd catch her before she made it anywhere," Noel shrugged. It was a valid point but Emily was a fighter, why wasn't she fighting? Not wanting to be complicit in Alison's plans for Paige was one thing, seemingly giving up was another thing entirely. Something else was going on.

Before she could share that thought with Noel, the doorbell chimed. "I'll get it. You finish the fence," Alison sighed, pushing herself off the punching bag and making her way toward the front of the house. Alison had dreaded the arrival of the neighborhood welcome wagon, but there was one question nagging at her.

"Hello there!" Alison was greeted with an overly warm smile from a middle aged brunette woman as she climbed the steps to the front door. "I'm Anne, I live two doors down. Welcome to the neighborhood!" Anne held out a pan of food that Alison took skeptically, looking the woman over.

Anne looked plain enough, dressed in a black blazer with a hideous floral shirt underneath and slim black dress pants. Just what Alison would expect from a resident of the quiet cul de sac. Alison gave a curt, "Thanks," and looked down at the warm pan in her hands.

"It's lasagna," Anne rushed out excitedly, a wide and genuine smile on her face. "My great grandmother's recipe. It's one of the only things I can make without almost burning the house down." She overshared with a laugh.

Alison fought back an eye roll at the admission. Why bring a person food if you're a terrible cook? Alison looked at the pan again, deciding that it was going straight into the trash as soon as she got back inside.

Undeterred by Alison's demeanor, Anne continued, "I just wanted to stop by and say hello. It's great to have new faces around here."

"Are you the one that's been using my pool?" Alison questioned, it was the only reason she agreed to do this song and dance instead of letting Noel handle it. The surprise of the well maintained pool had been bothering her since they arrived, and the gap in the privacy fence Noel found only heightened her suspicion that someone had been on the property recently, maybe even frequenting it.

Anne's smile faltered for the first time during their conversation, "No, I think that would be the Wades from next door. The house has been empty for a long time, nobody coming or going, I guess they thought it wouldn't hurt anyone."

Alison hummed, shifting slightly so she could get a look at the Wades' house. She would have to keep an eye on them. Anne turned to leave and was halfway down the steps when Alison surprised herself and called out to stop the woman. It was Anne who looked skeptical now, but she turned slowly and came back up the steps. Alison didn't know how long they would be staying and it was better the neighbors didn't think she was a complete ass.

"I'm sorry, Anne. That was rude of me." Alison apologized, but Anne only stood there, arms crossed as if she was expecting more. Realizing she'd have to give the woman something, Alison took a deep breath. "My…uh, fiancée…and I…we're having our first fight," She twisted the truth, "I'm not handling it well." She said honestly, eyes suddenly focused on the pan in her hands again.

"Oh, honey," Anne's eyes widened with understanding. "Relationships are hard work, marriage is even tougher. If it's your first argument the two of you probably haven't had much experience communicating during the hard times. You just need to talk."

"I've tried talking, she's the one who won't talk. She's been held up in our guest bedroom for two days. It's driving me crazy," The words were out of Alison's mouth before she thought about them and she could hear irritation creeping into her voice but Anne didn't seem phased.

In fact, the older woman nodded sympathetically, "Can you tell me what happened right before she stopped engaging with you? Did she give you any indication of why she's pulling away?"

Again the words started to flow before Alison could stop them, "She was pissed." Alison thought back to the moments just before Emily went quiet in the car. "Our move here was sudden, I took-" Alison stopped suddenly and rephrased, "I uprooted her from her life, her family…but if she just let me explain she would see-"

"See what? That you're right?" Anne interjected. "You made a hasty decision that affected you both and when she tried to tell you it wasn't what she wanted, you ignored her, ignored her feelings, and did it anyway," Anne said flatly, her tone not accusatory or judgemental but it made Alison's stomach turn.

Being called out so bluntly made Alison shift uncomfortably. The older woman stuck out her hand, "Dr. Anne Sullivan," she softened her features again and offered Alison a smile, "I'm a therapist."

Oh fuck, Alison kicked herself, she'd been shrinked. She should have let Noel get the door. The reintroduction made Alison realize she still hadn't told the woman her name, "Alison" She shook the doctor's hand.

"Well, Alison, you might not want to hear this but you don't get to decide how long your fiancée stays upset with you. Stay close, but give her space, she'll come to you when she's ready. When she does, I suggest you don't let the first thing out of your mouth be how right you think you are," Anne raised a brow. "Until then, be chill. Isn't that what your generation says?"

Alison smiled, letting out a small laugh, "I can be chill."

"Good. Enjoy the lasagna, and remember I'm two doors down." Anne placed a reassuring hand on Alison's shoulder before saying goodnight and heading back to her home.

Between catching a glimpse of Emily through the window and Dr. Sullivan's advice, Alison was feeling…hopeful. She took the Lasagna inside and cut a small piece for her to taste, it wasn't bad. She plated a slice and brought it upstairs to the guestroom where she knocked lightly on the door and told Emily it would be there if she wanted it. No yelling, no persuasion. Alison pulled out her cell and went into the study, deciding to check in on Eric and DCG.

… …

Alison severely overestimated her ability to be fucking chill and at the end of day three of Emily being locked inside the guestroom she found herself in a one sided screaming match outside the door. She'd once again tried to bring Emily dinner and when she pressed her ear to the door the room was dead silent. Alison knew Emily couldn't be doing well and she couldn't let it continue. She was furious with herself for letting it go on so long.

"What's the plan here, hmm?" Alison yelled. "Do you even have a plan or do you just hate me?" Alison knew she was spiraling and when Noel tried to stop her she shoved him away hard, waiting for a response. "It doesn't have to be this way, we can talk."

Nothing.

"You can't starve yourself, Emily!" Alison banged furiously. "You're body physically will not let you keep this shit up." If Alison was yelling loud enough for neighbors to possibly hear she didn't care, "Open the fucking door."

Still nothing.

"That night at the club...you liked me, I know you did." Alison's voice cracked. There was a feeble bang on the opposite side that lacked the force that was intended, much weaker than Alison's. "You don't have to punish yourself for liking me. I like you too," Another weak bang followed and then there was the sound of heavy objects crashing to the floor. Alison pressed her ear to the door again, she could hear Emily breathing, it was fast and labored. The spacing between the sounds of Emily destroying the room gave away that she was using all the strength and energy she had left.

Patience was overrated, Alison decided and she grabbed Noel's gun from his waistband, flipping it and slamming it down of the door handle repeatedly until it broke. She was able to dodge the lamp that came flying toward her as soon as she entered the room but it shattered, leaving glass all over the floor. "Or maybe not. You could always tell me I'm wrong. We may have been two strangers at a bar but that doesn't mean you didn't have a good time with me." Emily looked irate, and like if she had the strength she would probably lunge at Alison. Before Emily could throw anything else at Alison, she wrapped her arms around the brunette. Emily attempted to buck her off multiple times but she was too weak and Alison dragged her out of the room with ease.

Navigating the stairs carefully, Alison managed to get herself and Emily down to the first floor in one piece. She set Emily on a barstool, and issued a firm warning, "Don't move." Noel followed closely behind, carrying the plate of Chicken Alfredo and bottled water Alison had tried to give Emily before losing her temper. Taking the plate from Noel, Alison instructed him to give them some privacy. She placed the water and plate in front of Emily, "Eat."

Emily's gaze flickered between the food and Alison, her expression guarded and unwavering. Alison couldn't help but feel exasperated, she'd never met someone so stubborn. "I won't force you to talk," Alison picked up the fork and twirled some pasta onto it. "But I won't stand by and watch you starve, no matter the reason. Either you eat, or I walk out that door right now and kill Paige." Alison had plenty of plans regarding the McCullers, but she was prepared to adapt. Emily's eyes narrowed as she searched Alison's face for signs she was bluffing. Without breaking eye contact, Alison extended the fork closer to Emily's mouth, "Your choice."

In silence, Emily ate every bite of the Chicken Alfredo that Alison fed her. The shadows beneath Emily's eyes and her struggle to stay awake confirmed Alison's suspicion that she hadn't slept much, if at all. Was Emily this devoted to everyone in her life, or was this level of commitment reserved solely for Paige McCullers? Envy mingled with rage coursed through Alison but she kept the feelings at bay. When the time came Alison would take Paige apart limb by limb, slowly and painfully, but until then she would enjoy feeding Emily pasta.